Vinesh Bennett on the court for the ACT Rockets during their 2017 national championship. Image: Michael Storrs - Powershots Photography

19 July 2017

Vinesh Bennett calls time on sensational representative career

Cricket ACT

After representing Australia in Indoor Cricket since 2005 and the ACT since 2007, two-time International Men's Indoor Cricketer of the Year and three-time World Cup winning player Vinesh Bennett has announced that he will retire from the sport following his participation in the upcoming 2017 Indoor Cricket World Cup in Dubai.

After representing Australia in Indoor Cricket since 2005 and the ACT since 2007, two-time International Men's Indoor Cricketer of the Year and three-time World Cup winning player Vinesh Bennett has announced that he will retire from the sport following his participation in the upcoming 2017 Indoor Cricket World Cup in Dubai.

Bennett won the International Men's Indoor Cricketer of the Year in 2012 and 2013, the highest individual honour within Indoor Cricket for any male player. He has currently played 49 tests for Australia including three World Cup titles. He will be looking to add more to that total during the 2017 World Cup in Dubai.

“Representing Australia at the World Cup will be an amazing experience; it is the first time the tournament is being held in Dubai which presents a great opportunity for Australia to take on all countries in these extremely warm conditions. The pressure will be greater than ever due to the difference in skill between all the countries now being closer than ever,” said an excited Bennett.

Starting his representative indoor cricket career with the NSW Open Men’s side, Bennett made his debut in 1999 claiming the Open Men’s and National League title in 2003. He then moved to play for the ACT in 2007, managing to claim the Open Men’s title two more times in 2015 and 2017.

Bennett remarked, “retiring with the ACT Rockets as the best side in Australia is a very satisfying achievement and with the large number of young players in the squad it is great to know the future of the side is in good hands. My role in the sport will now change from a player to a coaching or support role to help develop even more talent for the territory. The team is in safe hands with Billy (Floros) and Marie (Hart) at the helm.”

Other titles on the resume of Bennett include winning masters titles with NSW in 2005 as well as the ACT and Australia in 2010. He has also has been a part of four trans-tasman series victories over New Zealand.

Bennett has capped off the a remarkable career in the perfect way and will go into the history books as one of indoor cricket’s greats!